After hearing about the "Left Wing Bias" of the Natl Media on many different threads, I think it's time to seriously examine this assertion. The assertion is meant to convey the idea that there is such a left wing slant to the media that the average citizen is deprived of the "Conservative/Non-Liberal " info he/she needs to make an informed decision. My assertion is that if there is any political bias to the natl media at all, .it slants to the right, not left. (In actuality I think the real answer is that today's national media is slanted towards making money....period. Whatever will keep you tuned to their station through their ads is what they will air) Maybe 30 years ago, an argument could be made for the left leaning of the media.....but not any more. The accountants have taken over.(Example: CBS News used to be an independent entity within CBS, & not required to turn a profit. Not any more!! For over 20 years, CBS News has been part of CBS's "Entertainment Division" & graded on profitability like any sitcom.As far as the Natl Media being predominantly liberal, please point out which ones on this "off the top of my head" list are screaming liberals:?

BRIAN KILMEADE: Dana, when’s the last time you got a question about Iraq when you’re in the press briefing?

DANA PERINO, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I don’t know if this is precise, but I don’t remember having sustained questions about Iraq, maybe there would be one off, but really since probably early December. And I think that’s as a result of General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker in conjunction with the Iraqis really making some progress on the ground.

"Does the media only want to report the bad news in Iraq? A recent MRC study suggests just that, noting "their zeal for reporting on Iraq declined as the violence and casualties did." The MRC documented that the number of stories declined in 2007 from 178 in September, 108 in October, to 68 in November."

IMO, what is not being recognized in this debate is that it is precisely the media, the so-called "fourth estate," which plays an absolutely essential role in preserving our liberty by exposing -- as far as is necessary to correct the condition -- departures of all kinds from the precepts of our form of government. After all, that's what the definition of "news" is: something unexpected.

Whether it's Watergate, Monica-gate, the "Keating 5," "Trooper-gate," "Travel-gate," "Spitzer-gate," Abu-Ghraib, Walter Reed, Jack Abramoff, "Gonzo-gate" or what-have-you-gate, what generates interest is when things don't go as expected, when people aren't doing their jobs, when public money is being stolen, when our soldiers, or our politicians, are not adhering to our stated principles about treatment of prisoners or of other countries. That is the essence of the freedom of the press; when the supposed checks and balances in our government are out of balance (as many believe they now are), it's that much more important for the press to discover these things and alert the people that their gov't isn't working as it should. And to push on those issues until things change.

That freedom of the press is arguably the main engine which keeps us free from the kinds of corruption, incompetence or malfeasance which would undermine and corrode our system of government and, as such, is one of the most important principles for which our servicemen and -women are fighting. The founding fathers knew it only too well, and it's no coincidence that it's the First Amendment.

Richard S. wrote:Again I think it has more to do with money, but if I had to choose it certainly appears they lean to the left.

I think it's more to do the fact the Media as a whole is more Left leaning ...by a long shot. One must ask, Mitt Romney had to make a HUGE speech about his religious teachings and how it would affect his Presidency ( moot now) But just watch MessNBC as Chris Matthews did to make all kinds of lame excuses about the White Hating Biggoted Preacher Man who just happens to be BHO's Spiritual Advisor and Mentor of 20yrs! Watch the MSM and how they go right into spin mode and they down play his affiliation ( no doubt a few here will as well). Question, if the Candidate was a Republican, does anyone really think it would come out now, or wait like Dan Rather did back in '04 ? ( except of course the BHO story happens to be true).

Oh that's right, you must be against the war, than you get exposure. According to them 800 soldiers have signed on.....that's like 1/2 of 1% of the Soldiers who have served, so of course they should get all the Press. I wonder who the JOHN KERRY wannabe will stand out this time.

Ed.A wrote:I think it's more to do the fact the Media as a whole is more Left leaning ...by a long shot. One must ask, Mitt Romney had to make a HUGE speech about his religious teachings and how it would affect his Presidency ( moot now) But just watch MessNBC as Chris Matthews did to make all kinds of lame excuses about the White Hating Biggoted Preacher Man who just happens to be BHO's Spiritual Advisor and Mentor of 20yrs! Watch the MSM and how they go right into spin mode and they down play his affiliation ( no doubt a few here will as well). Question, if the Candidate was a Republican, does anyone really think it would come out now, or wait like Dan Rather did back in '04 ? ( except of course the BHO story happens to be true).

Funny, I watched Mitt's religion speech (you know, the one where he said the word "Mormon" but twice) and nearly wretched as Chris Matthews fell all over himself saying how "great" and "presidential" it was.